License plate mounting



Aug. 15, 1950 J. B. DICKSON LICENSE PLATE MOUNTING Filed July 27, 1946 Patented Aug. 15, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LICENSE PLATE MOUNTING John B. Dickson, Highland Park, Mich., assignor to Chrysler-Corporation, Highland Park, M1ch., a corporation of Delaware Application July 27, 1946, Serial No. 686.79 6

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to means for removably securing an object to a relatively flat surface and more particularly to means for providing a water-tight connection between two fiat elements by the cooperation of rubber-like material, the elements, and a fastening device.

The invention will be described in connection with an automotive vehicle and the usual license plate afiixed thereto as this is a typical use thereof although it is to be understood that other applications of the invention can be made.

Heretofore, it has been customary to provide metal brackets on the exterior surface of automobile bodies so that the usual annual state license plates may be afiixed thereto. The brackets are unsightly in appearance and retain the license plate a considerable distance from the surface of the vehicle body. I It is an object of my invention to provide a plurality of flexible water tight elements in the vehicle body surfac and to which the license plate may be secured to be retained substantially flush with the vehicle body.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a license plate mounting whichwill not rattle.

An additional object of the invention is to so associate the components that tightening the fastening device deforms the rubber-like material to improve the seal against penetration of water.

An additional object is to provide a mounting for a vehicle license plate that prevents the removal of the license plate by any person who does not have access to the luggage compartment.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the rear portion of c an automobile showing a license plate mounted thereon with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a, section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one mounting element and the license plate;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4--fl. of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting element;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the mounting element; c

Fig. '7 is a view of a preferred type of screw: and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a vertical section taken through one combination of mounting elements.

The invention is illustrated herein as applied to a license plate mounting on an automobile as ment lid forming a surface panel I I, fenders l2,

and bumper l3. A license plate I 4 is mounted on the exterior surface of the luggage compartment lid by means to be described herein.

Fig. 5 illustrates in perspective one form of mounting element I5. The element is formed of a distortable rubber-like material and is flat and elongated in shape with a series of aligned openings l6 extending substantially throughout its length along its axis. The element l5 has an annular groove H which is parallel to its fiat surfaces and extends around its longitudinal periphery. The groove I! is adapted to receive portions of the luggage compartment lid ll therein so that the element may be secured to the deck'lid. The plurality of aligned openings are provided to offer a selection of location for a screw 'or other fastening means which is to penetrate the element in a manner to be described herein.

The drawings show the license plate M secured to the luggage compartment lid H l at three places. The number or location of the fastening devices may be changed without departing from my invention. At each of the places where it is desired to secure a portion of the license plate to the luggage compartment lid the latter is provided with an elongated opening is of a contour adapted to receive the mounting element 15 therein so that element 15 fills opening !8 and the portions of the lid bordering the opening [8 may be received in the annular groove I! of the mounting element I 5. If desired a glue or bonding may be utilized to further secure the mounting element to the deck lid.

In Figs. 3 and 4 a threaded screw I 9, a washer 20, and a nut 2| cooperate to secure the license plate M to the mounting element IS. The screw l9 penetrates the usual opening 22 in the license plate and one of the openings 5 in the mounting element and the washer and nut are assembled on the screw l9 on the opposite side of the mounting element from the license plate as illustrated in Fig. 4. As explained above, a plurality of openings I 6 are provided so that a choice of locations for screw I9 is available. A long continuous opening l6 may be substituted for the plurality of separate openings if desired as shown in Fig. 6 although the Fig. 5 form is preferred. The portions of mounting element l5 disposed between openings in the Fig. 5 form stabilize the mounting element and tend to overcome any tendency of the screw 19 to distort the mounting element by dragging a portion thereof along with the screw when the latter is inserted.

The distortion of the rubber-like element I caused by the penetration of the screw 19 through slot l5 which has a width substantially less than the diameter of screw l9 and the reaction of the lid l I which retains the periphery of the element l5 within the contour of the opening l8 cooperate to secure a water-tight seal around the screw l9. The rubber element [5 is distorted an amount suflicient to accommodate the volume of that portion of the screw which is retained therein. The luggage compartment lid H surrounding the opening I8 prevents this distortion of the rubber element l5 from deforming the periphery of the element l5. Therefore, the opening [6 in element 15 adjacent screw i9 is eifectively sealed around the screw 19. In addition the tightening of nut 2| and Washer 28 on screw 19 exerts a lateral distortion of the element that produces a further sealing in the vicinity of the screw l9. This prevents water from entering the;

luggage compartment to. harm articles carried" therein or to initiate rusting thereof.

If desired, a cotter pin may be inserted through a small hole provided on the inner end of the screw is to lock the screw against removal by an unauthorized person who does not have access to the luggage compartment to remove the cotter pin. Fig. 8 illustrates a further safeguard against theft that may be used if desired. A

supplemental plate 26 of sufficient size so that,

it cannot be drawn through opening I8 maybe secured against element IE on screw l9 provided with cotter pin 25. The plate 26 will thwart any effort to remove the license plate by digging out the rubber element [5 and pulling the screw,--

washer and cotter pin through the opening l8.

It has been found that sheet metal screwslike that illustrated at 2'! in Fig. 7 are particularly easy to insert through the element [5. A sheet of metal similar to that illustrated at 26 in Fig. 8 with a preformed hole adapted for cooperation with the screw may be used as a backing plate or nut. It is to be understood that while reference has been made to the use of a screw, other mechanical equivalents thereof could be substituted without departing from my invention.

As shown in Fig. 2 the upper mounting element has been illustrated as utilizing a license plate engaging tab 23 rather than a direct penetration of the license plate by the screw l9. This is a matter of choice and could be applied to all mounting elements if desired.

I claim:

In a motor vehicle .a surface panel having a preformed opening therein and means for supporting an identifying plate upon said panel comprising a rubber-like mounting element having an annular groove extending around its periphery and adapted to fill said opening with portions of said panel received in its groove, said element having a slot therein and a screw fastening device having a diameter substantially greater than the width of said slot and adapted to penetrate said slot to secure said plate to said element'and said panel and to directly contact and distort said element laterally to effect a watertight seal around the edges of said preformed opening and around the periphery of said fastening device.

JOHN B. DICKSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Nielsen Nov. 2 1937 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,518,669 7 August 15, 1950 JOHN B. DICKSON It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 2, line 15, strike out the word longitudinal and insert the same before axis, line 13, same column;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of-November, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommz'ssioner of Patents. 

